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Preview: Oilers @ Maple Leafs Game 25

ONE GAME WINNING STREAK ONE GAME WINNING STREAK ONE GAME WINNING STREAK

By Jeff Chapman
Neon Leon
Neon Leon
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports


Edmonton

@
leafs logo
8-14-2, 18 points, .695 p/g Ranks 7-11-5, 19 points, 1.35 p/g
Western Conference - 14th Eastern Conference - 16th
30th P/G 27th
15th ST 16th
20th S/G 12th
28th Goal 20th
5:30 PM MDT
TV - Sportsnet
Radio - 630 CHED
Air Canada Centre
The opposing view: Pension Plan Puppets


ONE GAME WINNING STREAK

After escaping Detroit with a single point on Friday night, the Oilers rushed to Pittsburgh to take on an ornery Penguins club that lost in overtime in Columbus the day prior.  Goals by Leon Draisaitl and Lauri Korpikoski helped push the Oilers up by two early in the first period, but a pair of goals by Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin helped knot the game up at 2.  The Oilers would take it to overtime (and eventually a shootout), and they emerged victoriouson shootout goals from Matt Hendricks and Jordan Eberle.   Anders Nilsson stopped 39 of 41 Penguin shots, and the Oilers have a chance at finishing at a Bettman .500 on this road trip.

The Oilers have a couple things going for them in this game.  They're facing a goalie set to make his NHL debut, and the Leafs will be without a key forward.  Let's go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

"It feels good to win."

Source

That's Oilers head coach Todd McLellan on getting a W in the shootout on Saturday night.

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, in which case the Oilers ought to be pretty fond of some wins.  Edmonton's last win before Saturday's 3-2 shootout was a week prior against New Jersey.  Prior to that, the Oilers were last victorious in Anaheim some nine days beforehand.  A victory in Toronto on Monday night would give them five wins for the month of November, a number that isn't good.

The opponents are saying

"We've got to find a way to win a game...Is he ready for the opportunity?  We're going to find out."

Source
That's Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock on rookie netminder Garret Sparks

Sparks, 22, is scheduled to get his first start of his NHL career tonight against the Oilers.  James Reimer (7-3-1, .934 SV% / 2.07 GAA) is out with a lower body injury, and Jonathan Bernier (0-8-1, .888 SV% / 3.29 GAA) isn't doing so hot right now.

Have some of this
  • JUJHAR TIME: Jujhar Khaira's statline from Saturday:  One shot, one block, three hits.  10:03 TOI.  Didn't cause a commotion out there.
  • BACK ON THE WAGON - Leon Draisaitl's goal against Pittsburgh gives him eight on the year and eighteen points overall (8-10-18) in fourteen games. Draisaitl trails Taylor Hall as the only other Oiler with more points (25).
  • I've got Anders Nilsson (5-6-1, .911 SV% / 2.75 GAA) starting tonight.  The Oilers may go with Cam Talbot (3-8-1, .889 SV% / 3.11 GAA) although Nilsson's certainly been having the better go as of late. Toronto's Garret Sparks is slated to get his first career start.
  • Connor McDavid (clavicle),  Nail Yakupov (ankle) and  Rob Klinkhammer (lower body) are out. The Maple Leafs will be without Joffrey Lupul (undisclosed), James Reimer (lower body) and Stephane Robidas (knee).